A Basque designer who blogs

April 2nd, 2008

I’ve been featured in Designers Who Blog. If you are a designer and you have a blog you should know about this great web site maintained by Catherine Morley. And if you’re not a blogger, but you like read blogs about design, you should also visit the site. I have found some of the most exciting blogs about illustration here myself.

Catherine wrote a really nice article about my blog and pushed me a little to keep writing more about the building process of this web site, so I’m going to have to finish the articles that I promised in former posts. Curiously, she has tagged me as a “half-Basque” designer. I was not born in the Basque country but my family is Basque and I grew up surrounded by a typical Basque culture – especially in things like my love for cooking and walking in the mountains. My family comes from a tiny beautiful village in the mountains called Orduña. I guess this had an influence in my artwork, as Catherine has pointed out.

I am very honored that Catherine decided to use the Basque subject to approach my work. The lands where my ancestors lived are still in my cells and blood and I feel very proud that this becomes a part of my paintings. Very soon I will move to the US West Coast with my wife and I know how much I’m going to miss my homeland. Thanks Catherine for reminding me where I came from.

4 Responses to “A Basque designer who blogs”

Catherine Morley says:

April 2, 2008 at 10:03 am

Hi Koldo,

I had to go and look up Orduña to see if I’d had the pleasure. My husband is a geologist so I’ve spent a lot of time driving around that part of France / Spain looking at rocks. LOTS of rocks. So, I was hopeful but it was not to be.

The photos I did come across are amazing. So one day, I do hope to make it there.

And I hope you enjoy living in the US as much as you obviously enjoy your fabulous country.

Again, love your blog
Catherine Morley says:

April 2, 2008 at 10:27 am

“bacalao al pil pil”… I had to look that one up too. Wow. Now I’m hungry.

Btw – I just LOVE your little guys that appear on each side of the comments box. So clever! I’m redoing my blog design at the moment and don’t have anywhere near the attention to detail you have here. I’m envious. Very nice.
Koldo Barroso says:

April 2, 2008 at 10:13 am

Yes, Orduña is one of this amazing places that you never forget once you’ve been there. A lot of people travels there from all over Europe to do paraglyding. I guess because they like to land on big pans of “bacalao al pil pil” (a typical basque recipe)
Koldo Barroso says:

April 2, 2008 at 10:36 am

These two guys would move with you if you could give them “bacalao al pil pil” but you can try instead with Thai food. It’s almost dinner time for us and I’m getting hungry too :-/

Testimonials

Through Koldo Barroso’s art we see magical characters and are drawn into an enchanted world. His storytelling captures your imagination and heart as he weaves life into each of his drawings. I am in awe of his incredible talent and passion for not only his work but for life.

Erin Hammill

How delightful. Thank you for the all the care and skill you have put into this illustration. I was touched and intrigued by your particular interpretation of "C'est La Vie" to see how you had taken the piece beyond its original form of a study in melancholy.

Peter Sinfield

"It is pure joy to enter the imagination of artist & writer, Koldo Barroso. His is a world of delightfully whimsical and bizarre characters brought to life with sensitivity, skill and humour.

This is creativity at its very best - inventive and poetical, its charm simply magnified upon repeated viewing.
Truly magical."

Lorell Lehman

Koldo Barroso is a brilliant and very original artist. His uniquely beautiful style of illustration is inspirational. You can feel the joy and fun that runs through all of his work.
We were blessed to have him do the illustration and cover design for our album "Life Stories" and couldn't have been more delighted. I feel his energy and wonderful artwork are as much a part of the album as the music itself, it so captured the mood and meaning of the project.

Kimara Sajn

"I received the package!!! Your talent is awesome! Thank you so much I love them. I have already framed them and have put in a place where my gaze will fall upon them frequently. I’m sure that everyone that visits my studio will also feel the Magical Radiance of your Work. I feel so lucky. I feel like I own a museum piece!

Nadiia Evans